Die-casting and foundry equipment from China
Converters, ladles, ingot moulds and casting machines for metallurgy and foundries from China, including hot and cold-chamber die-casting and low-pressure casting machines, pay 0% UK duty with no anti-dumping duty. Molten metal and high clamp forces make guarding and hydraulics the main safety issues. Cambridge China Bridge sources foundry machinery.
Hot and cold chamber die-casting machines, low-pressure casters, ladles, ingot moulds and converters from China pay 0% UK duty. Safety, trials and an example.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, converters, ladles, ingot moulds and casting machines of a kind used in metallurgy or in metal foundries, heading 8454, carried 0% on goods from China on all five lines, including parts, with no anti-dumping measure.
Die-casting moulds (dies) are classified as moulds under heading 8480, and furnaces under 8514 or 8417, so confirm the commodity code for each item of a cell, and see our injection moulds guide for tooling.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Converters | 8454 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Ingot moulds and ladles | 8454 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Casting machines for casting under pressure (die-casting) | 8454 30 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other casting machines (gravity, low-pressure, centrifugal) | 8454 30 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Parts | 8454 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Machinery rules
Each machine placed on the UK market must meet the essential health and safety requirements of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, with a declaration of conformity, marking and instructions in English. The type standard for pressure die-casting cells is BS EN 869, which covers guarding against metal splash, die-closing hazards and hydraulic safety.
Hydraulic systems on large die-casting machines run at high pressure and use fire-resistant fluids near molten metal, so ask for the hydraulic circuit, accumulator certification and fluid specification.
Specifying a machine
Specify clamping force, die platen size and tie-bar spacing, shot capacity and injection speed, alloy (aluminium, zinc, magnesium), hot or cold chamber, die-height range, ladling and extraction automation, spray system, cooling, controls and data logging, voltage and supply, and the spares, commissioning and training package.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 2 cold-chamber aluminium die-casting machines under 8454 30 10 00. At £230,000 free on board and £14,000 to ship and insure, the customs value is £244,000. With 0% duty on die-casting machines, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £244,000, or £48,800. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
Inspection checklist
Dry run and trial: run the machine at the factory through full cycles and, where possible, cast your part, checking clamp force, shot curves and cycle time against the quotation.
Safety: check guards, interlocks and metal-splash protection at the die area against BS EN 869, test every emergency stop, and check the electrical panel against BS EN 60204-1.
Hydraulics and documents: check hose ratings, accumulator certificates and leak-tightness, and check the declaration of conformity, English manuals, hydraulic and wiring diagrams and spares list before crating.
What goes wrong
Die-casting machines fail on shot performance, hydraulics and support. Injection curves and cycle times fall short of the quote, hydraulic leaks appear after shipping, accumulator paperwork is missing, controls are hard to repair, and commissioning takes longer than planned.
Witness a trial, check hydraulic and pressure documentation, and plan commissioning and spares before shipment. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources die-casting machines, ladles and foundry equipment for UK and overseas foundries, checking the builder's references and workshop before an order. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on die-casting machines from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, casting machines for casting under pressure (8454 30 10 00) carried 0% from China.
Are the dies included?
No. Die-casting dies are moulds under heading 8480, with their own code.
What safety standard covers die-casting machines?
BS EN 869 covers pressure metal die-casting units.
Is there anti-dumping duty?
No line of heading 8454 had a UK anti-dumping measure on 27 September 2026.